My Chicken is an idiot!

[Nick]

My little lavender araucana has just started laying! Hurrah - unfortunately she seems a little dim witted, and goes into each next box in turn, making a lovely little nest. She then sits on one of her newly made nests for ages, before coming out and laying an egg on the path. I mean - honestly, I know Chickens aren't the brightest of animals but...
I'm also hoping her eggs are going to get a little bigger - currently they are smaller than bantam eggs - abeit a beautiful blue colour!!

 

[watson]

Congratulations on your first egg! usually the first eggs are smaller than usual after a few eggs they will be normal size.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Poultry Keeper Forum

 

[chrismahon]

We've just moved our Wyandottes into the new enclosure with a new coop. The coop has 4 nest boxes and one of the hens has done the same thing Nick. All the boxes have a lovely little nest made in the hay, but we didn't get an egg! They are nearly three years old now and one still hasn't got the hang of it.

 

[Icemaiden]

My girls seem to eject most of the aubiose out of the nestbox, back into the coop... I'd expect them to prefer something soft to sit on, but apparently not 19

I put a china egg in the nestbox at first, to give the girls a hint. Not sure if that's worth a try? It worked for two of the three ex-batts. It's quite big though- if I were a hen, I'd wince at the thought of laying that... :roll:

 

[Margaid]

My Welsummer kicks most of the bedding out too so I'm going to try putting the roll away insert back in - mainly so that the squirrels can't get at the eggs. I have only seen them around the hen house when the chickens are still inside, but as the birds are now free ranging I'm concerned the squirrels will investigate the coop when the enclosure is empty and find the egg.

 

[Icemaiden]

You can bet your life they will, Margaid. Squirrels chewed their way through three wooden bird boxes in out garden last year & had all of the blue tit & great tit eggs / chicks

Can I suggest a squirrel proof run with a roof? That's what we've done; they can't get at the hens' eggs or their food; the rate our squirrels eat, the wire mesh will pay for itself by May...

 

[Margaid]

Not really an option as the whole idea is for them to free range. The rollaway insert has a semi-opaque cover, which is underneath the nest box perch so the egg is hidden. Also the cockerel spends quite a lot of time in the enclosure while the girls are out so hopefully that will deter the squirrels as well. The squirrels leap through the electric netting, insulated by their fur and being off the ground as they go through they're not earthed. If I decide to breed I may get some Heras panels, but not for a while as OH has grizzled to a friend about the costs to date - bit of a cheek as he has a VERY expensive engine test rig which still isn't in use 4 years after purchase. At least he gets to eat the eggs!